Franklin ransom



P. R AN S 0 M. GARBURETING APPARATUS.

No. 67,216'. Patented July 30, V1867'.

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FRANKLIN RANsoM, oF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AssicNoR To T. F. FRANK, 0F SAME-PLAGE.

Letters .Patent No. 67,216, dated July 30, 1867'.

InPRoVRD GARBURBTTING APPARATUS TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONGERN:

. Be it known that I, FRANKLIN RANsoM, of the crty oflBuffalo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Apparatus for Carburettiug Air; and I do hereby declare that the following -is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which.-

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my improved apparatus.

Figure 2 is a section through one of the air-wheels in the plane of ai w, fig. 1.

Figure 3 is avplan of the air-pumping apparatus.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures. i

The object of my invention is to charge common air with the volatile elements of hydrocarbon liquids, by forcing it through and in intimate contact with the particles of the same, .by means of the improved apparatus hereinafter described, so as to render the mixture suitable for the purposes of illumination.

The invention consists in the special-combination and arrangement of parts for pumping or forcing the air, and for supplying the gasoline or other hydrocarbon liquid; in the special arrangement of the shield for protecting the ends of the air andgasoline pipes; and. in the peculiar manner of counteracting the effects of the pulsations, and producing a uniform How of the gaseous-mixture to the burners.

In the drawings, A represents a box or tub for holding the air-pumping wheels B B, of which there may be two or more arranged on the same shaft c, as hereafter more fully explained. C-is a receiver of the air forced therein by the wheels B. Dis the air pipe leading therefrom to, and terminating near, the bottom of the carburetting vessel E. F is the reservoir or vessel for holding the gasoline, made air-tight, with a pipe, a, near its bottom, which connects'with the carburetting vessel. Gii is -the perforated shield for protecting the ends of the pipes D and avfrom the porous oriibrous material H, which is iillcdin above. vI is a partition or diaphragm dividing the vessel L, and J is the regulator,from which the gas is conducted by a pipe, b, to the burners. v I

The wheels are constructed, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, of two disks, connected at their peripheries by s strip of metal, so as to form a short hollow cylinder. I prefer to employ two, (although more may be employed if desired,) which are mounted in any suitable'way on the same axisj or shaft c, having its-bearings in the sides of the box A. One end of the shaft, on the outside or inside of the box, may be provided with gear, y, or other suitable mechanism, for operating it, by means of a'. spring, weight, or other power. 'These wheels or cylinders are divided into several compartments,K K, (preferably four,) by radial partitions d d, at right angles to each other, as clearly shown in iig. 2.. In the `periphery offeach wheel are aperturesf, one of which opens into each division K, at the junction of the partitions d. with the former, for the admission of the air and water, at the centre of the wheel. Around the axis arc holes g g, for the escape of the-air' into the concentric tube or pipe L, which surrounds the shaft c and connects the two whcels,'bein'g provided with openings e e, near its centre, for the escape ofthe air into the receiver,C,-placed over them.I The wheels B B are both arranged on the same shaft in such a manner that the openings-fin the two wheels will be intermediateof each other, so as to render their action alternate, and, consequently, more uniform. l

The receiver O `is a vessel of any suitable construction, open at the bottom, with slots in its sides, so as to it over the pipe L, the-lower edge being immersed in the water in the tub A, so as to for-m an air-tight compartment for receiving the air as it is discharged through the openings e. h h are light brake-bars arranged under each wheel, as shown, and hinged at one end to the bottom of the tub A, while the other ends are connected together, and are provided with a. cord or small rod,q, which. connects with the short arm of a lever, v, in the upper portion of the receiver C, a' Hoet, M, whic'hmay be made of a bag inflated with hydrogen gas, or it may be of any other suitable construction, being attached t'o the end of the long arm by which the brakes are operated, as will presently be explained.

The operation of this part of my apparatus is as follows: The tub A being filled with water up to about the point represented in the drawings, the shaft c -is set in motion in the direction indicated by the arrow in fig. 2.

The portion of the wheels above the water line is lle'd with air, which enters through the apertures f, that Y. .mit 2 become submerged and closed. by 'thewnten as the wheels revolve, thereby conning the .air therein til-l the compartment' which contains it is lowered beneath the water, when the pressure of the liquid above, together with the' difference in the densities of thel two, will force the air through the `central holes g into the pipe L, and thence throughfopenings e, whence'it escapes into the receiver above. The use of the two wheels prevents that partially intermittent orirregular action of. the pumping apparatus, and in a measure, the consequent pulsations of thenir, as it is being pumped or forced to the carburetting vessel, which would otherwise ensue.- From the receiver the air is conducted through -pipe D to near thcbot'tom of the carburettiug vessel, when it is' discharged into 'the gasoline, with which the lowerportionv of the vessel is filled, as clearly shown in fig. 1. In the bottom of E I provide a. perforated box, G', of any. desired form, with the holc= or the'- introductionl of the ends of the tubes D a, for the purpose of protecting the orifices of the latter fr-m being obstructed by the' fibrous materialE, of any suitable kind, as wool, flax, Svc., which is filled in the space beneath the partition I. 'This porous or fibrousl material., becoming saturated with'the hydrocarbon liquid` presents a greatly-multiplied surface for 'the particles of air to come in contact with, as it is 'forced up through the interstices, fully charging' it with the 'volatile and inflammable elements. Ab'o've and resting inverted upon the door 4I is the cylindrical vessel J, made air-tight at the top, where ythe pipe D passes through, b ut provided with apertures z't' at the bottom-for the free passage of the water, which partially fills .the upper portion of L. 'Within this regulating 'vessel J, and surrounding'the pipe D, is the enlarged pipe N, extending nearly to the top of the vessel J', with its upper end left open, while the joint at its lower end isV made water-tight, 'so as to retain the water which surrounds it. The carburetted air, as it rises to the top of the fibrous materiali-I, passes through 'openingsj I ln the door I at the centre, and thence n-p the pipe N into the regulator J. -The gas enters this vessel with a' kind of' pulsating action. To neutralize this eiect'various devices have been employed.- Some .have used an elastic bug, the sides of which would yield to the pulsations. In my'ixnprovemen't I employ the mobility of .water to accomplish the lsume result. There 'being a 'free passage for the waterv hack and forth through' the openings at the bottom of the regulator, the surface ofthe water within the latter readily yields as the gas pulsates, completely neutralizingits effects, so that the gaseous mixture passes oil' through pipe bv tothe burners in a continuous and uniform dow. To maintain the proper supply of gasoline or other liquid in the carburetting vessel, I till the reservoir F through the opening l, at .the top, which is then closed air-tight, and the stop-cock h t, in the connecting pipe-a, opened, when the liquidwill flow into the vessel E till it reaches the height of the top of 'the orifice o'f a, whh the pressure of the air inthe carburetting vessel will stop its further flow.' As the liquid in the latter vessel becomes volatilized, so as to reduce the surfaces. little4 below the top of 'the orifice, theair begins to enter the pipe and ascend -in bubbles to the top of the rservoir, which, by partiallycounter-v balancing the pressure, permits the'ilow of theliquid again till the orifice. is again closed, when it ceases` and so on till the reservoir becomes empty. The wheels B may beeasily operated by any suitable mechanism, and both being mountedvon' the same shaft, less gearing' is 'required to operate them thanwould be the case if 'mounted on separate shafts, and consequently less power is'required to operate them, owing tothe diminished friction, which -is a matter of great importance inthe use of apparatus for carburetting purposes. vThis arrangement is also more simple, and' can be constructed at a. less expense thanany other with which I am: acquainted. The brakes hh operate to regulate the action Aof the apparatus to the amount ofgas required 'in the'following manneri When' only a small quantity is required for illumination, which is less than theamount being manufactureithe pressure of theair within the receiver C increasemwhich depresses the water within v the same, causing the oat to fall, which brings `the brake-bars h in' contact with the peripheries of' the wheels, the resistance of which either retards or entirely overcomes the motive power of the apparatus, (which is .preferably a weight or spring,) causing the Wheels to sto'p pumping. Again,l when the gas is consumed so as to diminish the pressure of the air within the receiver, the water rises in the same, elevating the dont-therein end releusng the brakes, when the wheels 'are again set in motion, thus automatically, and in s, perfect manner, regulating the manufacture of the gaseous mixture tothe 'varying amount that may be required. The construction and arrangement of the reservoir' with thev carburetting vessel supplies the requisite amount 4ofthe-gasoline orot'her liquid, from time to time, as may be required, in an equallyzperi'ect and automatic manner. The shield G protects the ends of the air and'gasoline pipes from the fibrous material above, and permits the free escape of th'e air into the liquid within the shield, from whence its particles come in the most intimate contact with those of the liquid, as it is forced upward through the saturated material and into the regulator, which, by counteb' acting the pulsations of the `fluid, causes it to pass from thence, in an even und uniform dow, to theburners. l

'Ido not claim'broadly` the combination of the Wheels B B, but what I claim asmy invention !s- 1. Two or more air-wheels, B, mounted on the same shaft,'and cohnected by the concentric cylinder L, in combination with the receiver C and tub A, arranged substantially as and for' the purpose set forth.

2. I also claim, in combination with the wheels B B, the brakesh L, actuated by the loatvM and lever v, Vfor regulating the operation of the apparatus, substantially in the manner specified.

3. I also claim the regulating vessel J and tube N, arranged within thecarburetting vessel E, and operating substantially as described. l

4. I also claim the shield G, in combination with the fibrous material -I-I and vessels J E,as aud'for the purpose specified. 5. I also claim, in combination with the carburetting vessel E, the reservoir F, for supplying the hydrocarbon liquid to the former, operating in the manner set forth. v

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my nume in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN RANSOM.

Witnesses JAY HYATT, l ALBERT HAIGHT. 

